David Swigon
Associate Professor
Department of Mathematics
Alfred P. Sloan Fellow
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University of Pittsburgh
Department of Mathematics
511 Thackeray Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
swigon@pitt.edu
Tel: (412) 624-4689
Fax: (412) 624-8397
My research interests are in the area of mathematical biology, in particular, construction of mathematical models of biological systems within the framework of theories of continuum mechanics, dynamical systems, and stochastic dynamics.
DNA mechanics
My current projects include the development micromechanical models of
DNA elasticity that combine
atomic-scale and continuum mechanics approaches with recent advances in
computational chemistry and employ information obtained by X-ray
crystallography, single-molecule manipulation, and other experimental
techniques. Part of my research program is oriented towards continuum
modeling of complex macromolecular assemblies and the application of
stochastic and deterministic dynamics in the study of molecular biological processes.
Mathematical Immunology
I am interested in the development of mathematical models of in-host human immune response to influenza A virus infection and the relation between immunity and inflammation. With my collaborators we have developed an ODE model for individual response, and an ensemble model capable of characterizing probabilistic outcomes of treatment scenarios.
Cell Migration
We are developing a mathematical model of migration of enterocytes during intestinal wound healing process that is based on novel assumption of elastic deformation of the cell layer and incorporates cell mobility, adhesion and proliferation.